With the highest vert in the East, Whiteface rocks. But in and around the home of two Winter Olympics, there’s a lot more than skiing to keep you entertained.

Serious G’s » Lake Placid Bobsled Experience

WHY GO » And you thought skiing was an adrenaline rush. Try flying through banked turns at freeway speeds. A professional driver and brakeman are provided. All you have to do is strap on your helmet and hold tight for a thrilling half-mile. whiteface.com/activities/bobsled-experience

Meet Staci Mannella, a partially sighted ski racer. The subject of a new TV show airing on the East Coast this season, the New Jersey native fought—with the help of her guide, Kim Seevers—onto the U.S. Paralympics National Alpine Team. This is her story. Stay tuned for more segments and the full length documentary on our site.

It's National Learn To Ski and Snowboard Month, and Vermont resorts lead the way with enticing discounts for newbies.

Got a friend who needs to learn how to ski? A spouse or significant other? A friend of your kid’s? Maybe it’s up to you to turn them on to the sport you love, and there’s no better time than January, National Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month.

It’s a wonder we didn’t end up with serious injuries to our wool-hat-clad heads.

Hunter Mountain, N.Y., isn’t where I actually learned to ski. But Hunter is indeed where I learned to ski. Chasing my older brother down icy black diamonds like Hell Gate and Minya Konka, yard-saling big-time on the double blacks at Hunter West—Westway, under the liftline, even. No matter how hard I skied—or rather how hard I bit it—my brother never let me win.

No place does diners like the Northeast, and these ski-country classics keep the flame alive.

Dot’s Restaurant, Wilmington, Vt. » The beloved eatery was taken out by the Hurricane Irene floods but rebuilt in 2014, much to the region’s relief. The space may be new, but the food is exactly the same, with legendary pancakes (served with real Vermont maple syrup, natch) and eggs accompanied by homemade breads.